Man raises £7k by counting coins from Bakewell fountain

Tony Verdon (centre) with the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and a few of the many thousands of coins collected from the Stables Fountain at Chatsworth House. Almost 260,000 coins were collected raising �7,000 for the macmillan Cancer appeal

A Derbyshire dad has raised almost £7,000 for charity by collecting 260,000 of coins from the fountain at Chatsworth House.

With the help of family and friends, Tony Verdon fished out, cleaned and sorted the change at the Bakewell estate in order to donate it to Macmillan Cancer Support, after losing his son to cancer last year.

The coinage, some of which has been in the stables fountain for eight years, weighed 1.75 tonnes and originated from more than 80 different foreign countries.

The 56-year-old and his helpers spent five weeks and 400 man hours completing the feat, which included counting, bagging and banking the money.

Tony, of Derby, said: “When Sam died I wanted to give something back to thank Macmillan for their incredible support. I became a volunteer and they asked me if I would be interested in this project. It was only when two vans turned up at my house and 87 large plastic sacks filled with coins were unloaded that I realised the project was a lot bigger than originally thought!”

The Duke of Devonshire, who lives in the stately home, said: “We’re so pleased that the coins tossed into the fountain by visitors to Chatsworth will help Macmillan continue their excellent work across Derbyshire.”